Sydney's Chase the Ace put on hold by Nova Scotia gaming division

The province's alcohol and gaming division has put a popular Sydney lottery on hold until problems with tickets can be ironed out. 

Last Saturday's Chase the Ace draw saw two ticket-holders come forward with the winning number. The two split the weekly prize (the ace was not drawn) and the problem was blamed on a printing error that produced duplicate tickets.

• Sydney Chase the Ace error creates 2 winners, jackpot still in play
• Sydney's Chase the Ace postponed

This week, organizer Stephen Tobin said the draw was being postponed until March 26, because volunteers anticipated a big increase in ticket sales and needed "extra time to prepare and manage logistics." 

But now the province's gaming division says it will not let the event proceed until organizers find a way to prevent duplicate ticket sales.

"We wanted to have a chartered accountant come in and really take a look at the manner in which the lottery is set up with regards to the reconciliation of tickets," said the division's executive director, John MacDonald. 

"We're looking for the lottery to come up with a solution that's going to satisfy us that's been met."

MacDonald said the event's sponsors, the Horizon Achievement Centre and the Ashby Legion, have been fully co-operative.

On Thursday, Tobin said the two charities have agreed to the gaming division's conditions and will work with a chartered accountant to make sure "due diligence is in place in terms of tracking ticketing numbers."

He said he's confident the duplicate ticket problem can be solved so the next draw will be allowed to proceed on March 26.

The jackpot is expected to be about $1.3 million, with nine cards remaining in the deck.

"I think the biggest difference going forward is going to be the level of professionalism that we're going to try and bring to this," Tobin said. "The protocol, the rules, the procedures and our internal security measures as well."